THE LADY Judokas took home their second straight title with a landslide victory over the University of the East in the UAAP Season 78 championships at the La Salle Greenhills from Nov. 17 to 18.
But their male counterparts were dethroned by Ateneo.
The Lady Judokas won six out of 10 gold medal matches and added four silver and three bronze medals against the UE Warriors, who placed second with 24 points.
UST has won five of the last six women’s title and now has a total of eight championships.
The Lady Judokas are the second winningest squad behind the University of the Philippines which has 12 championships. UP finished third this season.
“Inspiration namin ‘yung natalo kami. Coming from a three-peat, noong season 76 lumagapak kami sa fourth [place.] Kailangan naming bumaba sa lupa para ma-realize namin kung ano ‘yung mga pagkakamali namin,” Lady Judokas coach Gerard Arce said.
Philippine National Games medalist and Rookie of the Year awardee Miam Salvador (-44kg) opened the gold-medal haul for UST with an Ippon (whole point) victory over UE’s Regine Laudino in the first day.
UST then secured the -52kg and -48kg titles as Sueko Kinjho and Season 78 Most Valuable Player Khrizzie Pabulayan defeated their teammates Almira Ruiz and Kimberly Pantoja, respectively.
Lorelie Tolentino (-57kg) bagged another gold in the second day in another all-Thomasian championship match after outhustling Tracy Jean Honorio.
Lady Judoka Eunice Lucero (-70kg) secured another top-of-the-podium finish with an emphatic Ippon takedown over University of the Philippines’ Dywnlyn Keith Gimena, while Aislinn Agnes Yap edged out University of the East’s Bianca Estrella to rule the -78kg category.
Jamaika Ponciano (+78kg) added a silver while Judokas Ednorly San Andres (-63kg), Khrisna Lynd Rotairo (-78kg) and Alexis Belen (-48kg) bagged bronze medals.
The Male Judokas finished with 45 points; Ateneo had 61.
UST faced the Blue Eagles thrice for the gold medal and lost all three matches. The Male Judokas would have been crowned champions for the second straight time if they won at least two of those matches.
In those gold medal bouts, Male Judoka Jolo Atienza (-90kg) suffered an Ippon throwdown by Ateneo’s Ramon Santiago, while teammates Robert Quito (-81kg) and Joaquin Miciano (-100kg) lost via penalty and Waza-ari(half a point), respectively.
Only Russel Lorenzo (-55kg), who edged out fellow Thomasian Daryl Mercado in the opening day, managed to claim a gold medal.
Karl Navarro (-66kg) also settled for silver while Dither Tablan (+100kg), Renzo Cazeñas (-90kg), Nikole Ong (-81kg) and Lucky Flores (-73kg) all took home bronze medals.
Last year’s MVP and three-time gold medalist Al Llamas (-60kg) settled for bronze after suffering an Ippon defeat against UE’s Khalid Macadagdag in the semifinals.
“Mataas ‘yung expectation, pero wake-up call ito para sa akin,” Llamas said.
The Male Judokas still lead the overall-title tally, with 10 titles, followed by Ateneo’s seven championships.
